Self-propelled combined earth scooping and conveying-off apparatus



7 May 9, 1939. H. K. RICHWINE SELF-PROPELLED COMBINEDEARTH SCOOPING AND QONVEYING-OFF APPARATUS,

Filed Jun 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l a Howe/ V.

y 1939- H. K, RICHWINE 2,157,968

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINED EARTH SCOOPING AND CONVEYING-OFF APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1937 May 9, 1939. H. K. RICHWINE 2,157,968

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINED EARTH SCOOPING AND CONVEYING-OFF APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 1939- H. K. RICHNINE 2,157,968

SELF-PROPELLED COMBINED EARTH SQOOPING AND CONVEYING-OFF APPARATUS Filed June 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 9, 1939 SELF-PROPELLED COMBINED EARTH SCOOPING AND CONVEYING-OFF A1- I PABATUS Hugh K. Richwine, Liberal, 'Kans.

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,969

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a self-propelledcombined earth scooping and conveying-off apparatus designed primarily for use in connection with the building of terraces, ditches, banks and the forming of trenches and furrows, but it is to be understood that an apparatus, in accordance with this invention is for any employment and any purpose for which it may be found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a self-prope1led combined earth scooping and conveying-off apparatus including a scooping unit so constructed and arranged to provide, on the forward travelof the apparatus for the earth to be continuously scooped up thereby, conducted upwardly on and guided by the front thereof and continuously discharged therefrom in a rearwarddirection from over the top thereof into an earth conveying-off unit acting to transport the scooped up material to a point removed from the path of travel of the scooping unit.

A further object of this invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the type referred to including a tractor and means whereby its scooping and conveyingoff units may be independently angularly adjusted in relation to said tractor.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a selfpropelled, combined earth scooping and conveying-off apparatus which is comparatively simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily assembled, thoroughly efficient in its use, conveniently adjusted and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may be hereinafter set forth, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but is is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a fragmentary view in top plan of the apparatus, the front of the tractor not shown, Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the apparatus,

Figure 3 is a section on line $3, Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 1,,

Figure 6 is a section on line 66, Figure 1,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating one end or the driven means of the material conveying-01f unit,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary View in side elevation showing the driving connection for said driven means,

Figure 9 is a section on line 99, Figure 2,

Figure 10 is a'section on line [$40, Figure 1,

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the combined scooping and earth directing unit when hitched to the tractor,

Figure 12 is a rear elevation of the unit shown in Figure 11, v

, Figure 13 is a lengthwise section of the scoop forming an element of the unit shown in Figure 11,

Figure 14 is a detail in cross section showing the spacer for the beams of the combined scooping and earth directing element, and

Figure 15 is a detail cross section on line Ifi-IE, Figure 2.

The apparatus includes a propulsion means in the form of a tractor of any suitable type. ()nly the rear portion of the tractor is illustrated. The tractor indicated at I2 includes a pair of casings I3, I4 for enclosing driving means, not shown, for the tractor wheels I5, l afl rear axles Il (only one shown) for operating the driving means within the casings I3, I4, a housing I8 for a differential (not shown) employed for driving the rear axles, rear axle housings I9, 20, integral with the housing I8 and connected to the casings I3, It centrally of the top of these'latter, a drive shaft 2! for the differential, and a frame portion 22. The elements l3 to 22 aforesaid are of known construction and arrangement.

The apparatus includes a horizontally disposed yoke-shaped member 23 which is arranged in the rear portion of the tractor between the casings I3, I 4, extends forwardly with respect to the wheels I5, I6 and constitutes a suspension for a The hangers 24, 25 are oppositely disposed, po-

sitioned against the front terminal portions of the lower faces of the sides 26 of the member 23 and anchored to the latter by the holdfast devices 32. Each hanger includes an upper'horizontal leg 33 coupler 38, a pair of spaced beams 39, 40 of like and a. vertically disposed front leg 34 depending from the front end of leg 33. The lower end of leg 341s formed with an inwardly opening socket 35. Mounted at its ends in the sockets 35 on the legs 33 is a coupling bar 36 of circular cross section and which provides for coupling the forward end of the earth scooping-up andjdirecting unit 31 with the tractor. v

The unit 31 is disposedbetween the center of bar 36 and the casing l3 and includes a hitch or form and a scoop 4| which is disposed at an inclination from its bottom to its top with respect to the hitch 38 and rear portion of tractor H. The

member 4| is arranged rearwardly of the tractor extends rearwardly from and depends from the rear or upper end of the portion 48. The rear part of portion 44 is arranged-at the rear of the scoop 4|. Between the front portions of the beams 39, 46 is arranged a spacer 46. The hitch or coupler 38 has its front formed of a pair of sleeves 38 which are loosely mounted on the bar 36. The front portions 42 of the beam and the spacer 46 between said portions are clamped to one side of the hitch or coupler 38 by a clamping plate 41 and the holdfast devices'48'. The said side of hitch 38 and the plate 41 have apertured ears 49 through which extend the holdfast devices 48. The portions 42 of the beams extend rearwardly from the hitch'38.

The scoop 4| is of concave-convex contour in lengthwise and transverse sectio has its leading portion of less width than its follower portion and has its follower portion so formed as to provide throughout the length thereof what maybe termed side retainers for the material as it travels upwardly on the front of the scoop. The retainers indicated at 48 are substantially of flange-like form. The front end 56 of the leading portion of scoop 4| is pointed. In fact, the scoop 4| has its leading portion consisting of what may be termed a tapered part merging at its rear into a rectangular part of greater length than the tapered part.- The scoop will be formed of two sections anchored together in a manner to be referred to. The unit 31 includes a yoke-shaped member 5| having its base 52 of greater length than its sides 53. The said base 52 is positioned against the-back of and anchored to the sections of the scoop 4| by the holdfast means 54. Each of said sides 53 in proximity to its front end is formed with an opening 55 and-in proximity to its rear end with a group of openings 56. The openings 55 align. The openings of the groups 56 align.

' The lower parts 51 of the rear portions 44 of the necting the beams and scoop 4| together. A holdfast means 55 extends through selected aligned openings of the groups56 and the upper openings in parts 51 for not only connecting the beams and scoop 4| together, but to prevent the latter shifting relative to theb'eams. The openings 56 enable the angular adjustment of the scoop relative to the beam; and inthis connection of the tractor. and lever mechanism 660i suitable form assoof side cheek 19.

together and to the sidecheek 19 by a pair of the holdfast means 58 will constitute a pivot for the scoop to permit it to be swung to align one of the openings of each group 56 with the upper openings of parts 51 after which the holdfast device 59 is extended through the aligned openings and secured to member 5|. The unit 31 is also capable of being adjusted relative to the tractor for controlling the depth of operation of the unit and for such purpose a chain 60 is at,- tached at one end to the rear part of the unit, as at 6|, and has its other end connected as at 62 to the outer end of a crank arm 63 carried by a rock shaft 64 journaled in an upstanding toothed plate 65 mounted on the top of the rear portion A braced spring controlled pawl ciates with the plate and has its lever fixed to shaft 64 or rocking the latter.

Anchored upon the axle housingv 20 is thefront end of a rearwardly extending channel bar 61 of a.

length to project rearwardly of unit 31. Secured intermediate their ends to the outer side of bar 81 are a front and a rear vertically disposed upright 68, 66 respectively disposed in parallel spaced relation and connected together by a brace 16 arranged against the bottom of bar 61. The ends of brace 10 are anchored to the inner sides of uprights 68, 69 as at 1|. A brace 12 is anchored at its ends, as at 13 to the upper ends of uprights 68, 69 on the inner sides of the latter. rights 68, 69 and braces 10, 1| form. a vertical hanger frame. Anchored at its front end to the axle housing l9 and atlits rear end on and to the bar 61 is a horizontally disposed inclined brace 14. Secured at its upper end to the upper part of upright 68 is an upstanding inclined brace 15 which has its lower end anchored to brace 14 intermediate the ends of the latter. Extending through and connected to the uprights 68, 69 in proximity to their lower ends is a pivot rod 16 for a purpose to be referred to.

The apparatus includes a conveyor unit 11 for receiving the scooped up material discharged rearwardly from over the top of the scoop 4| of unit 31. The unit 11 embodies a pair of spaced parallel side cheeks 18, 19 of the desired height and length which extend between the uprights 68, 69 and are loosely mounted intermediate their ends on the pivot rod 16. Arranged between the upper portions of, disposed upwardly from and positioned in proximity to the side cheeks 18, 1.9 are a pair of material confiner members '80.

8| respectively of the desired height and length.

its rear face secured to a pair of spaced super-V posed reinforcing members 84 preferably, of wood. The abutment 82 is arranged in superposed relation to the rear terminal portion of the topedge The members 84 are secured spacedvertical straps 85 which are anchored to said members and to the outer side faceof cheek 19.. The lower member 84 is connected to the side cheek 19 by a strap 86 anchored to such member and the said cheek and such member is positioned rearwardly of confiner 8|.

terminal portion of the latter is an upstanding bracket 81 for a purpose to be referred to. The

The up- Secured to the forward side face of side cheek 18 at the rearbracket 81 at its lower' end merges into one side of a combined protecting. and confining element 88 consisting of a forwardly extending upwardly inclined lower part 89, an upstanding curved intermediate part 90 and an upstanding rear part 9| inclining rearwardly from top to bottom. The confiners 80, 8I arecoupled to the side checks by any suitable means, such as by way of example, the means 93 as shown in Figure 2.

The unit IT includes an endless conveying belt 94 which travels around the rollers 95, 96 carried by shafts 91, 98 respectively, journaled in the outer and inner ends respectively of the side cheeks I8, 79. The rollers are arranged between the cheeks. The shaft 98 is extended from the side cheek I9 and carries a sprocket 99 driven from an endless sprocket chain I00, operated by a sprocket pinion IOI carried by a transmission shaft I02 formed of a pair of sections universally jointed together. The shaft I92 is suitably sup ported by a bracket I03 secured to the confiner 8|. Attached to the side cheek I9 and confiner 8I are superposed track forming means I04 for the chain IOI.

The side cheeks and confiners are disposed at an upward inclination and have their lower ends disposed rearwardly of the tractor wheel to the left. The side cheeks and confiners are disposed at an inclination with respect to the track forming means I04 for the chain I00.

The position of the unit 11 is at right angles to the line of draft of tractor I2. The side cheeks I8, I9 extend horizontally with respect to the tractor frame from a point rearwardly of wheel I5 to a point laterally to the desired extent-with respect to the wheel I6 depending upon the length of the side cheeks. The inclination of the endless conveying belt with respect to tractor I2 or the ground may be varied and for such purpose an adjusting structure I05 is provided therefor. The structure I05 includes a pair of chains I06, I01 connected at their outer ends to the side cheeks I8, I9 respectively, a coiled spring I08 connected at its outer end to the inner ends of chains I06, I01, a link I09 attached at its outer end to the inner end of spring I08 and at its rear end pivotally connected to the lever element of a spring controlled pawl and lever mechanism H0, an arcuate rack forming member III which coacts with the pawl element of mechanism H0 and has the lower end of the lever element of said mechanism pivotally connected thereto, and a support II2 for and which is anchored to member III. The support H2 is positioned upon the top of and is anchored to bar 61.

The bracket 81 is of angle shaped contour and includes a horizontal portion H3 which-overlaps the inner side of the rear terminal portion of the upper run or stretch N4 of the belt 94 and acts to cause the earth or material discharged from over the top of scoop 4! to be deposited on the belt and also to prevent the material passing between the cheek I8 and the inner side edge of the belt. The portion II3 is to be of the desired length and width to accomplish the purpose referred to. The bracket 81 is connected to the bar 36 by a holding chain 3 The abutment 82 prevents the passage of the material from ofi of the outer side of the lower or rear terminal portion of the upper run or stretch II4 of belt 94 when the material is discharged onto the belt from over. the top of the scoop M.

The element 88 functions as a wear protecting means for the lower end of the side cheeks," a protector for the roll 95, a shield for the lower or rear terminal portion of the lower run or stretch N5 of the belt 94, and a confiner or arrestor for materially reducing the passing off of the earth from the lower end portion of belt 94.

On the forward travel of the tractor, the unit 3! will act to scoop up the earth, which will be directed upwardly on the front of scoop 4| to the upper end of the latter and discharged in a rearward direction from over the top edge of scoop 4! on to the belt 94 which will transport the earth and dump it at the point desired.

The transmission shaft I02 is operated from the differential. The bracket 81 and element 88 is an integral structure and constitutes a sled for supporting the lower end of the conveyor.

The front loading elevator or conveyor has the following advantages: The dirt is raised up and the elevator is pulled under it. This eliminates the necessity for a wide conveyor belt. The elevator is so designed to exclude the dirt from the rollers and belt, that in connection with the scoop element, the lower end of the elevator will slide in the furrow made by the scoop element. This fact alone reduces the power required because the scoop does not have to raise the dirt more than a few inches before it is deposited on the belt.

In rough ground the spring tension on the outer end of the elevator gives flexibility, which eliminates undue breakage.

The combination of the plow scoop and front loading elevator completes a turning and ditching machine that will fit on any tractor and work efficiently at any, sped.

One man can operate this machine and run the tractor as well.

This apparatus does not require a large tractor. The apparatus is simple, easy to operate and can be manufactured at a cost so reasonable that every farmer can afford to own one. With this machine terraces can be constructed at a cost of fifteen dollars per mile, while the present cost for the same terrace constructed with other equipment averages from forty to eighty dollars per mile. The apparatus will reduce the cost of constructing terraces seventy-five percent, as compared with present equipment being used.

A divisional application Serial No. 149,970 was filed of even date herewith and has since issued as Patent No. 2,142,919.

What I claim is: 1. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up and carrying-off apparatus of that type includhorizontally directed upwardly inclined wear 1 preventor for and disposed lengthwise of the of said structure and integral at its lower end with the forward side of said preventor, said I bracket being secured to the forward side of said structure'and having a rearwardly directed upper portion overlapping a part of the upper run of said conveying means constituting an earth shield. V

2. In a mobile combined earth scooping up and carrying-off apparatus of that type including an upwardly inclined conveyor structure disposed at right angles to the line of draft and having an endless, driven earth conveying-off means, the combination of a forwardly directed upwardly inclined wear preventor for and disposed below and lengthwise of the lower end terminal portion of the bottom of said structure, said preventor being disposed in laterally extended rearward relation with respect to the rear side of the said terminal portion, a curved upstanding protector integral at its lower end with the lower end of said preventor for and opposing the lower end of said structure, an upstanding outwardly inclined earth confiner merging at its lower end in the upper end of said protector, and an upstanding bracket arranged forwardly of the forward side of said structure and integral at its lower end with the forward side of said preventor, said bracket adapted to be secured to the forward side of said structure and being formed with a rearwardly directed part overlapping the forward side marginal portion of the upper run of the conveying-off means constituting an earth shield.

3. In a mobile combined earth scooping up and carrying-off apparatus of that type including a tractor and an upstanding combined earth scooping-off and directing unit, the combination of a driven, upwardly inclined, resiliently sus pended, pivotally'supported conveyor structure arranged rearwardly of said'tractor and element, disposed at right angles to the line of draft and driven from the tractor, and a combined wear preventing, protecting and earth confining unit mounted on the lower terminal portion of said structure and including a part disexteriorly of and opposing the lower end of said 7 structure, a part forwardly of and connected to the forward side of said structure, a part overlapping the forward side marginal portion of the upper face of said structure and an upstanding outwardly inclined part having its lower end positioned in proximity to the lower end of the upper face of said structure, and means for connecting said confining unit to the tractor.

4. In a mobile apparatus for the purpose set forth, in combination an upwardly inclined con- 'veyor structure including anendless conveying belt for loading at its lower terminal portion, an earth shield connected to said structure and disposed on the forward side marginal portion of the upper run of said belt at its lower end terminal portion, an upstanding earth abutment disposed on the rear side of said structure adjacent the rear side edge of the lower terminal portion of said belt, and an upstanding outwardly inclined confiner connected with said structure, extending outwardly fromand having its lower end disposed in proximity to the lower end of said upper run.

5. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up I and conveying-off apparatus of that type ineluding a tractor and an upstanding combined earth scooping-up and directing element, the

combination of an upwardly inclined adjustable endless conveyor arranged rearwardly of said tractor and element, disposed at right angles to the line of draft and including upper and lower runs, a pair of uprights disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor, means for suspending the uprights from the tractor, a pivot rod mounted in the lower portions of the uprights and extending through the conveyor, front and rear side cheeks arranged relatively to said runs and mounted on said rod, combined supporting and operating means for the conveyor carried by the side cheeks, driving means for said operating means driven from the tractor, front and rear spaced parallel confiners disposed over and lengthwise of said upper run and of less length than said cheeks, means for connecting the confiners to the cheeks, an upstanding abutment adjacent the inner ends of the confiners and having its bottom disposed in superposed relation with respect to the top edge of the lower terminal portion of the rear side cheek, and spaced means arranged against the rear surfaces of the abutment and rear side check for securing the abutment to the rear side cheek.

6. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up and conveying-off apparatus of that type includelement, disposed at right angles to the line of 1 draft and including upper and lower runs, a pair of uprights disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor, means for suspending the uprights from the tractor, a pivot rod mounted in the lower portions of the uprights and extending through the conveyor, front and rear side cheeks arranged relatively to said runs and mounted on said rod, combined supporting and operating means for the conveyor carried by the side cheeks, driving means for said voperatingmeans driven from the tractor, front and rear spaced parallel confiners disposed over and lengthwise of said upper run and of less length than said cheeks, means for connecting the confiners to the cheeks, an upstanding abutment adjacent the inner ends of the confiners and having its bottom disposed in superposed relation with respect to the top edge of the lower terminal portion of the rear side cheek, spaced means arranged against the rear surfaces of the abutment and rear side cheek for securing the abutment to the rear side cheek, and flexible means connected with the lower terminal portion of the front side cheek and to the tractor for coupling the'conveyor with the tractor.

7. In a mobile combined earth'scooping-up and conveying-01f apparatus of that type including a tractor and an upstanding combined earth scooping-up and directing element, the combination of an upwardly inclined adjustable endless conveyor arranged rearwardly of said tractor and element, disposed at right angles to the line of draft and including upper andilower runs, a pair of uprights disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor,

means for suspending the uprights from the 7 means for said operating means driven from the tractor, front and rear spaced parallel confiners disposed over and lengthwise of said upper run and of less length than said cheeks, means for connecting the confiners to the cheeks, an upstanding abutment adjacent the inner ends of the confiners and having its bottom disposed in superposed relation with respect to the top edge of the lower terminal portion of the rear side cheek, spaced means arranged against the rear surfaces of the abutment and rear side cheek for securing the abutment to the rear side cheek, and adjusting means for the conveyor supported from said uprights and including a resilient suspension means having oppositely extending flexible parts secured to the side cheeks adjacent their outer ends.

8. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up and conveying-off apparatus of that type including a tractor and an upstanding combined earth scooping-up and directing element, the combination of an upwardly inclined adjustable endless conveyor arranged rearwardly of said tractor and element, disposed at right angles to the line of draft and including upper and lower runs, a pair of uprights disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor, means for suspending the uprights from the tractor, a pivot rod mounted in the lower portions of the uprights and extending through the conveyor, front and rear side cheeks arranged relatively to said runs and mounted on said rod, combined supporting and operating means for the conveyor carried by the side cheeks, driving means for said operating means driven from the tractor, front and rear spaced parallel confiners disposed over and lengthwise of said upper run and of less length than said cheeks, means for connecting the confiners tothe cheeks, an upstanding abutment adjacent the inner ends of the confiners and having its bottom disposed in superposed relation with respect to the top edge of the lower terminal portion of the rear side cheek, spaced means arranged against the rear surfaces of the abutment and rearside cheek for securing the abutment to the rear side cheek, and spaced superposed guides for said driving means secured to the rear sides of the rear confiner and rear side cheek.

9. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up and conveying-01f apparatus of that type including a tractor and an upstanding combined earth scooping-up and directing element, the combination of an upwardly inclined adjustable endless conveyor arranged rearwardly of said tractor and element, disposed at right angles to the line of 0 draft and including upper and lower runs, a pair of uprights disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor, means for suspending the uprights from the tractor, a pivot rod mounted in the lower portions of the uprights and extending through the conveyor, front and rear side cheeks arranged relatively to said runs and mounted on said rod, combined supporting and operating means for the conveyor carried by the side cheeks, driving means for said operating means driven from the tractor, front and rear spaced parallel confiners disposed over and lengthwise of said upper run and of less length than said cheeks, means for connecting the confiners tothe cheeks, an upstanding abutment adjacent the inner ends of the confiners and having its bottom disposed in superposed relation with respect to the top edge of the lower terminal portion of the rear side cheek, spaced means arranged against the rear surfaces of the abutment and rear. side cheek for securing the abutment to the rearside cheek, adjusting means for the conveyor supported from said uprights and including a resilient suspension means having oppositely extending flexible parts secured to the side cheeks adjacent their outer ends, and spaced superposed guides for said driving means secured to the rear sides of the rear confiner and rear side cheek.

10. In a mobile combined earth scooping-up and conveying-off apparatus of that type including a tractor, an upstanding combined earth scooping-up and directing element and a conveyor structure carried with the tractor, arranged rearwardly of the tractor and said element and disposed at right angles to the line of draft, the combination of a suspension on the tractor, a pair of spaced parallel hangers depending from the suspension and formed with sockets at their lower ends, a coupling bar having its ends mounted in said sockets, a hitch loosely mounted at its forward end on and extended rearwardly from said bar, a pair of permanently spaced oppositely disposed connected together beams of like form extending rearwardly from the hitch and being provided with depending forwardly directed rear portions adapted to have said element connected thereto, said beams having their forward end terminal portions disposed at one side of the hitch, and means for anchoring said forward end terminal portions to the said side of the hitch.

HUGH K. RICHWINE. 

